Monterrey, Mexico
It was a long time coming, but Diana Shnaider finally reached her first WTA final of the 2025 season at the Abierto GNP Seguros WTA Monterrey tournament. After winning four titles on the WTA Tour in 2024, Shnaider will have the opportunity to lift this 500 level after a 6-3 7-6(8) victory over Alycia Parks in a match that was highly competitive, especially in the second set.
In a match where Parks fired 13 aces but also had 8 double faults, the American was able to dictate play at times with her baseline power,but lacked the consistency to capitalize in the key moments. Shnaider’s steadiness won the day as she was the only player to convert a break point in the match (Parks was 0-6). In the first set, Shnaider broke for 2-1 after saving three break points in the opening game. A long service game at 3-5 saw Parks broken again to drop the set.
Second Set Battle Sees Shnaider Prevail
In set 2, Parks elevated her game, but Shnaider was locked in, absorbing her power hitting. Shnaider saved two more break point chances at 1-1 in the second set. Holds of serve would be exchanged, and at 5-5 Shnaider had to save another break point on her own serve. The second set tiebreak was as competitive as the match itself, Shnaider led 4-1, only for Parks to win four consecutive points for a 5-4 lead. Parks would have a set point at 6-5, Shnaider would have two match points, before converting the third match point to take it 10-8 with a great backhand passing shot.
In her post-match press conference Shnaider stated that she focused on not being completely passive in the match, and that showed in the result as she was able to absorb some of Parks best ball striking and then counter.
The quality of the match was high, and Shnaider continued to show incredible mental fortitude this week in Monterrey. Against Elise Mertens in the quarterfinals, Shnaider saved five match points, recovering from 5-1 down in the third set. Now she’s two sets away from winning a 500 level title, just before she defends her 4th round ranking points at the US Open.
This is a great indication that Shnaider’s game is in the ascendance, as she began working with coach Sascha Bajin this summer. She stated post match that there was a lot of pressure on her this season in her second full year on the WTA Tour.
Rain Postpones Alexandrova vs Bouzkova Semifinal to Saturday
If either Ekaterina Alexandrova or Marie Bouzkova are going to win the Abierto GNP Seguros, they will have to do it by winning two matches in one day. The pair got through the first four games of their semifinal match even at 2-2 before torrential rains made it impossible to complete the match late on Saturday night. At 11 A.M. local time, the two players will complete their semifinal, before the winner faces Shnaider in the final later on Sunday.
In terms of matchups, Alexandrova scored a routine victory over Shnaider in their only meeting (2025 Charleston) in what would be an All-Russian final. Shnaider has played Bouzkova twice, splitting the h2h meetings over the last two years. Both Bouzkova and Alexandrova have reached one WTA final this season, and in both cases, they became champion.
*Editors note: Bouzkova withdrew due to a hip injury, and Shnaider faces Alexandrova in the final.
Hanyu Guo With Opportunity to Repeat as WTA Monterrey Doubles Champion
The rain also forced a retirement in the doubles semifinal that began on Saturday, Hanyu Guo and her partner Alexandra Panova advanced over Linda Noskova and Rebecca Sramkova via retirement, and will face Cristina Bucsa and Nicole Melichar-Martinez in the final. Both Noskova and Sramkova are scheduled to play singles at the US Open shortly, and a tight travel window was an impediment.
Main Photo Credit: Imago Images xChristopherxKatsarovx
